Council of Europe Commissioner Urges Georgian Parliament Chairman to Abandon Anti-LGBT Legislation
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
On September 10, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O'Flaherty, published a letter addressed to Georgian Parliament Chairman Shalva Papuashvili. In the letter, O'Flaherty urged the Georgian Parliament to abandon the proposed anti-LGBT legislation, which recently passed its second hearing, and called for an end to rhetoric that stigmatizes the LGBTI community. The Commissioner emphasized that framing their efforts for equal rights as "LGBTI propaganda/promotion" is harmful and unacceptable.
O'Flaherty also encouraged Georgian authorities to collaborate with both national and international partners, including the Council of Europe, on how best to protect the rights of LGBTI individuals and combat discrimination.
"The draft law provides a legal footing for discrimination against LGBTI people and appears to be at variance with the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention)," O'Flaherty wrote. He also provided a brief overview of relevant case law from the European Court of Human Rights, reinforcing the need for the Georgian government to reconsider the bill.
The Commissioner expressed concern over prejudice against LGBTI people in certain segments of Georgian society, particularly among some politicians. He recalled previous statements made by his predecessors, highlighting that LGBTI people in Georgia remain targets of hate crimes and discrimination.
O'Flaherty also criticized provisions in the draft law that list sexual orientation and gender identity alongside incest, arguing that this only worsens the stigma and discrimination faced by the LGBTI community.
Addressing the issue of protecting children from sexual exploitation and abuse, the Commissioner stressed that Georgia, as a party to the Council of Europe's Lanzarote Convention, should address any gaps in the protection of children through targeted legislation. He underscored the importance of not jeopardizing other human rights under the Convention or fostering societal prejudice against LGBTI individuals in the process.
O'Flaherty requested that the Georgian Parliament Chairman ensure all MPs receive a copy of the letter and reaffirmed his willingness to maintain constructive dialogue on this and other human rights issues in Georgia.
